Kingston-based Bikram Yoga Jamaica partnered with Bikram Yoga NYC to host an All-Reggae Bikram Yoga Class, on March 11 at Bikram Yoga NYC???s midtown studio. The sold out class was led by Yolande Lloyd-Small, who opened the Caribbean???s very first Bikram Yoga studio in Kingston in 2014. Yolande used the opportunity to promote upcoming Bikram Yoga Retreats to Kingston, recently ranked #24 on The New York Times??? ???52 Places to Go in 2017???. Marcia Sinclair, Jamaica Tourist Board???s District Sales Manager, Northeast USA, was on-site to provide information on travel to the destination. Participants also had the opportunity to win a three-night weekend trip for two to Kingston, Jamaica – courtesy of Jamaica Tourist Board, Caribbean Airlines and the Spanish Court hotel.
Approximately 500 couples shared their unique proposal stories during the Jamaica Tourist Board???s (JTB) recent Vow Renewal campaign in Canada. Hosted on Facebook, the campaign targeted couples interested in romantic getaways, vow renewals, weddings and honeymoons. The overall reach for this campaign was over 258,000 and it was valued at $140,000 CAD.
To win, couples were required to enter their proposal story. At the end of the entry period, three proposal stories were randomly selected and Facebook fans were invited to vote for their favourite. The entry with the most votes won a trip to Jamaica.
Jamaica participated in Routes Americas 2017, the travel event that provide opportunities to meet with senior decision makers from the region???s airlines to discuss new market opportunities and the evolution of existing services. The delegates only event was held February 14-16 in Las Vegas in the United States. Director or Tourism, Paul Pennicook lead the Jamaica Tourist Board delegation as they engaged the world???s leading airlines in negotiating travel routes to the island. Above, the Jamaica team is shown in discussions, from left to right are Director Pennicook, Audley Deidrick, President, Airports Authority of Jamaica and CEO Norman Manley International Airports Limited; Alfred McDonald, Senior Director Commercial Development and Planning, Norman Manley International Airports Limited; Francine Carter-Henry, Manager-Tour Operators & Airlines, Jamaica Tourist Board; Donnie Dawson (Standing), Deputy Director of Tourism, Sales, Jamaica Tourist Board and Nicholas Han(behind the desk), Senior Analyst Route Planning, JetBlue Airways.
Travel agents flocked the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) booth during the recently held New York Times Travel Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in midtown Manhattan. The NY Times Travel Show is one of the important events on Jamaica Tourist Board???s sales calendar. It provides an opportunity for Jamaica to showcase its many and varied offerings to an audience of more than 25,000 travel professionals and enthusiasts. Partnering with the JTB this year to provide consumers an opportunity to win all-inclusive 4-day/3-night vacations for two (accommodation only) were: AMResorts, Jewel Resorts/Hilton, Melia Braco Village and Palladium Resorts.
Jamaica captured the spotlight at the 2017 Travvy Awards in New York copping four gold awards:Best Honeymoon Destination, Caribbean/Bahamas; Best Culinary Destination, Caribbean/Bahamas; Best Tourism Board Overall and Best Tourism Board, Caribbean/Bahamas.
The awards were presented in the presence of hundreds of travel industry leaders last week (January 25) at Gotham Hall in New York City. The annual Travvy Awards recognize the highest standards of excellence in the travel industry and honor travel companies, travel products, travel agencies, and destinations for their outstanding achievements. Over 39,000 agents, who sell the vast majority of these trips to tens of millions of consumers yearly, vote and award the very best in the travel industry.
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) recently rewarded its top selling Jamaica Travel Agent Specialists with a three-night getaway that included tours, world-class dining, shopping and more. As part of JTB???s One Love Rewards Program, the top 50 agents from the United States, Canada and the UK were flown to Jamaica and given the royal treatment at Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa in Montego Bay. The vacation concluded with a special ???All White Affair??? gala where the top selling agents were presented with artwork specially designed by noted Jamaican artist Everald Powell. Minister Bartlett, in bringing greetings, lauded the group for their significant contribution to the island???s tourist industry. He noted that as a group, they helped the destination achieve what has been a record breaking year, noting that between January and October of 2016, Jamaica had earnings totaling US$2 billion, an increase of 5.7 percent over the same period last year. Total Room Nights booked by the Top 50 agents was nearly 115,000, which earned the island in the region of US$25 million.
MS Monarch cruisers are treated to a festive and colorful arrival. Tours of historic locations in and around Kingston including Port Royal, Devon House and the old capital of
Spanish Town were planned for the passengers. With the opening of the North-South Highway, visitors were also able to visit Dunn???s River Falls in Ocho Rios.
Kingston welcomes the MS Monarch, Royal Caribbean???s Pullmantur-operated ship. To date, this is the biggest cruise ship to ever call on the capital city. Additionally, Ocho Rios port hosted Norwegian Cruise Line???s Norwegian Epic and Princess Cruises??? Coral Princess while Montego Bay port hosted Thomson Cruises??? Thomson Dream and AIDA Cruises??? AIDAmar.
This buzz of activities comes fresh off the heels of Jamaica winning the ???World’s Leading Cruise Destination??? title by the World Travel Awards on December 4. Topping all Caribbean destinations, Jamaica won a total of nine awards total, won individually and through its resorts and travel partners.
Jamaica welcomed six of the world???s largest and most renowned cruise vessels and megaliners in the ports of Falmouth, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Kingston. This was the second time in the past four years that this number of ships were docked in Jamaica at the same time. With the six vessels in port, Jamaica played host to over 15,000 cruise passengers eager to explore the vibrant destination.
Jamaica remains on track to have a record year in tourism as the island continues to register growth of over 5% for both tourism earnings and visitor arrivals. From January to October 2016, Jamaica recorded earnings of US$2.06 billion, which represents an increase of 5.7% over the amount earned for the same period last year. The island also registered an increase of 5.1% in visitor arrivals over the same period last year, with 3,100, 235 total visitors. ???Our arrival figures and tourism earnings, from January and October of this year are very positive and an indicator of the considerable impact tourism is having on the growth agenda. Our tourism earnings continue to outpace our arrivals, which is quite significant. It is clear, that we remain on track to have a record year in tourism,??? said Minister Bartlett.
A Jamaican feast it was, as Jamaica???s esteemed culinary maestros, Chef Christopher Golding of Half Moon Resort and Martin Maginley Executive Chef at Jamaica’s Round Hill Hotel and Villas, dished out a delightful fare at Cond?? Nast Traveller Chefs??? World Series in London on November 1. The pair was joined by Chef Vernon Samuels of Rudie???s in London as they tantalized the taste buds of food connoisseurs. The Cond?? Nast Chefs??? World Series brings top culinary talents to London, creating unforgettable feasts with global twists like Chef Martin???s Red Stripe Lager Braised Beef Short Rib and Heirloom Beet Shooters with Ginger Mint Pearls; Chef Golding???s Coconut and Annatto Poached Snapper Fillet and Roasted Pumpkin Lobster Bisque. The Jamaica Tourist Board was the main partner of the event.
The Excelsior High School, which has the distinction of being the first institution to form a Tourism Action Club, was the venue for the Tourism Action Club 20th Anniversary Celebration and Poster Exhibition. The event saw the participation of a number of schools and provided the opportunity for the JTB to publicize the successes and benefits of the Club. Highlights of the day included the announcement of St Jago High School as the winner of the TAC 20th Anniversary Poster Competition. Additionally, there were radio interviews with former TAC members Minister Floyd Green, Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Youth and Information; Gavin Myers, Events Coordinator, National Integrity Action and Dr Alfred Dawes, Senior Medical Officer, Savanna-la-Mar Hospital. Other interviewees were, Radcliffe Haynes, former staff advisor at Excelsior High School who started the club 20 years ago, Principal Deanroy Bromfield and current TAC member Aisha Downer. All lauded the TAC for its role in their academic and personal development. Excelsior High School was presented with an award for their unbroken commitment to tourism education as the inaugural Tourism Action Club.
The mandate of the TAC is to sensitize the students about the benefits of the industry to all Jamaicans, from the individual to the national level. The JTB continues to engage the students in topical issues, trends and best practices in the industry. Equally, the students have been valuable contributors, sharing their experiences and ideas about what they want to see in the industry. They also participate in international fora such as the Global Travel and Tourism Partnership Research Awards and the Caribbean Tourism Organization Youth Congress. Staff advisors play a vital role in the success and sustainability of the TAC machinery, as they help to make the concepts come alive. The advisor???s resourcefulness and creativity help students to develop more than a cursory interest in the industry, often becoming tourism ambassadors. Said Essie Gardner, Marketing, Communication Manager, JTB, ???it is amazing to see how the Tourism Action Club has influenced our young people over the years. Whether they have pursued careers in medicine, education, politics or tourism, they see the connection and importance of tourism. That is the purpose of the Club ??? to help our learners understand that regardless of their final career choice, there is always a link to tourism.???
Jamaica is seeing impressive growth, with an estimated 1,756 rooms to open by the end of 2017. ???We continue to attract new brands as we focus on expanding our accommodation portfolio,??? said Paul Pennicook, Jamaica???s Director of Tourism. He continued, ???the new developments that will come on stream in the last quarter of 2016 and first quarter of 2017 are good indicators of the strength of the product, and a promising outlook for the future. We are constantly making room to welcome more visitors to our beautiful island.??? The new hotel developments that are coming on stream will be in the resort areas of Negril, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Kingston. The recently opened North-South highway adds to the appeal of the island as travel from Kingston to Ocho Rios is now under an hour.
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), will over the next several weeks host approximately 100 travel agents as they get apprised of updates in the island???s tourism product. The agents who are from North America, will visit accommodations, attractions, enjoy the island???s gastronomic offerings and rich culture. Great care has been taken to ensure that they are exposed to the diverse offerings of the destination. Familiarization tours are part of the strategy used to promote Jamaica, as the JTB and its tourism partners expose travel agents, so that they are empowered to promote the destination.
The Jamaica Tourist Board is happy to report it is business as usual for the country after Hurricane Matthew passed the island earlier this week. There was little or no damage to the island???s resorts and attractions and weather conditions continue to be good as visitors are engaged in normal activities. ???We are thankful that Destination Jamaica was spared a direct impact from Hurricane Matthew and that our on-shore partners did not suffer damage,??? said Paul Pennicook, Director of Tourism. ???Our thoughts and prayers are with our Caribbean neighbors as Matthew continues its journey northward.??? He emphasised that “Jamaica is open for business, and I encourage persons to continue to visit our island and experience a unique and memorable vacation that only Jamaica can provide”.
Winners at the inaugural Jamaica Travel Market Gala Dinner and Awards are captured in a celebratory mood with Director of Tourism Paul Pennicook (far left), Minister of Tourism Hon Edmund Bartlett (third right) and Elizabeth Fox, Regional Director UK/Northern Europe JTB (second right) at the Luton Hoo Hotel, United Kingdom. The dinner honoured Jamaica???s top performing agents and tour operators for their contribution to Jamaica???s tourism success in terms of room growth. Kuoni Travel picked up the award for top UK tour operator (centre), Sackville Travel took top UK travel agent/tour operator (second left), Expedia won top UK online tour operator (far right) while TUI collected two awards for top UK charter tour operator and top Nordic Tour operator (third left).
Jamaica???s chefs have once again tantalized the palates of trendsetters, food lovers, tennis fans, top chefs and pro tennis players at this year???s Taste of Tennis event?? in New York. The Jamaica Tourist Board partnered with Palace Resorts, Miss Lily???s, Appleton Jamaican Rum, Red Stripe and Xaymaca Coffee in hosting the Home of All Right Lounge at the event at W New York Hotel in August. Executive Chef Adam Schop and Chef de Cuisine Andre Fowles, Food Network???s ???Chopped Champion??? from Miss Lily’s, served the classic pastrami sandwich adding a Jamaican twist with mouthwatering jerk brisket on a toasted pretzel bun topped with scotch bonnet mustard and coleslaw. Dennis McIntosh, Executive Chef of Moon Palace Jamaica Grande, prepared green plantains topped with fried red snapper and spicy vegetables.
The popularity of Jamaican cuisine has grown tremendously with the opening up of many Jamaican restaurants across North America and Europe. Jamaican chefs have successfully blended cooking techniques, spices and recipes to contribute to one of the most flavourful cuisines in the world. Some of our outstanding chefs who continue to fly the epicurean flag high are Chef Martin Maginley, Chef Dennis McIntosh and Chefs Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau.
The multi-award-winning Jamaica Observer Table Talk Food awardee, Chef Martin Maginley has enriched the culinary experience for many, having worked at 4 and 5 star hotels in Jamaica and Canada, he is the current Head Chef at Round Hill Villas and Spa. He has appeared on The Today Show, Fox 5 Morning Show, and others, performing live demonstrations and has been featured in publications such as Food & Wine and Caribbean Travel & Life. Chef Martin was instrumental in the creation of the highly successful “Epicurean Escape” in association with Food & Wine. Chef Martin continues to tantalise the palates of his guests with authentic Jamaican fare, affirming that what’s uniquely Jamaican can pass muster anywhere in the world.
Chef Dennis McIntosh grew up in Nest Castle, a small community in St Thomas but at the age of eight, he and members of his family migrated to England. During his early years he developed a deep appreciation for the art of fine cuisine and later enrolled in the Henley College to study culinary arts. Chef McIntosh set about creating his culinary path by working in Germany, England, the United States, and Bermuda, before returning to Jamaica in 1990 to take up his first executive chef position. A standard bearer for Jamaican cuisine, Chef McIntosh has appeared on Food Network Channel, and in 2012 was the guest chef in Brussels, Belgium, at the request of the Jamaican Embassy for the 50th year of independence celebrations. As President of the Culinary Federation of Jamaica he is paying it forward by assiduously providing opportunities and exposure for up and coming chefs. Growing up in a family with a deep appreciation for good food, and being surrounded by fresh ingredients, Michelle and Suzanne Rousseau were introduced to the culinary world from a tender age. Not only chefs, they are also the authors of Caribbean Potluck: Modern Recipes from Our Family Kitchen. The book is a compilation of the stories of their lives in the food business. Both sisters have catered an impressive roster of events including weddings for Hollywood actresses Drew Berrymore and Reese Witherspoon, as well as dinner for Charles, Prince of Wales. The two sisters opened their first restaurant, Ciao Bella in 1996, which evolved from a caf?? to a fine dining restaurant. They also designed the menu at Usain Bolt???s Track and Records. The Rousseau Sisters have definitely made it their point of duty to showcase Jamaican cuisine to the world.
These are just some of the Jamaican food ambassadors who continue to make their mark in the culinary world with use of our bold flavours and passion.
Sept 25-October 1 the Ministry of Tourism and its agencies will mark World Tourism Day and Tourism Awareness Week next month under the theme: Tourism For All: Promoting Universal Accessibility. Several activities are being planned to celebrate the week.
